Fun at PARK(ing) Day Dallas

Happy PARK(ing) Day [2013]

Around the world today citizens are transforming parking spaces into parks to create dialogue about urban public space and have fun with neighbors. Today marks the third year PARK(ing) Day has been celebrated in downtown Dallas, and we have a great diversity of participants and entertainment lined up. Despite a few last-minute adjustments (due to the weather), the festivities will continue on Main Street from 11:00am to 7:00pm.  The map below shows an overview of activities that are planned (click to enlarge).

PD_Map2013

Click here to view our EVENT PAGE with all of the day’s participants and entertainment details. We hope to see you out on Main Street. And don’t forget to join us for the PARK(ing) Day Dallas after-party at City Tavern from 7:00pm-9:00pm.

 

Parking Day Dallas 2013 Promo 2 from patrickm02L on Vimeo.

Downtown Dallas adding dozens of parks on Friday

Annual event will temporarily transform parking spaces into community space

In cities around the globe on Friday, September 20, 2013 artists, activists and citizens will temporarily transform metered parking spaces into public parks and other social spaces as part of an annual event called “PARK(ing) Day.” The event is intended to promote social interaction, civic engagement, critical thinking, and creativity through individual generosity and play.

For the third year Dallas area residents will transform permitted on-street parking spaces into nearly 50 miniature parks. Stretching several blocks along Main Street (between Field Street and St Paul Street) in downtown Dallas, participants will challenge the meaning of public space in an urban area. Visitors are encouraged to learn, play and interact within these spaces from 11:00am to 7:00pm. A Recycled Fashion Show will start the day at Pegasus Plaza (11:00am), and City Tavern will host the PARK(ing) Day after-party from 7:00pm–9:00pm.

PARK(ing) Day Dallas participants include: 1900 Elm Lofts; AIGA DFW; Architecture for Humanity; Art Conspiracy; Artistry By Gerard Claiborne; Beacon Montessori; City of Dallas Street Services; City of Dallas / Downtown Dallas Inc.; City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality; City of Dallas Waste Diversion; Corgan Associates Inc.; Dallas Center for Architecture; Dallas Holocaust Museum; Dallas Public Library; DogFit Dallas/Designed By Nature; Downtown Pawz; Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6; Erica Guajardo Illustrations; Feet First & Hair; Freshii; HKS; Jomae Productions; Manzanita Sol; MESA; metroARTS Corporation; Nasher Sculpture Center; Omniplan Architects; patrickm02L; Soap Creative; Studio Outside; Sunnyland Furniture; SWA Group; The University of Texas at Arlington Program in Landscape Architecture; Urban Armadillos/Preservation Dallas; Volunteer Center of North Texas; Which Wich Superior Sandwiches; and World Wear Project.

PARK(ing) Day is a free public event directed by community volunteers. Musical entertainment organized by Deep Dallas Music will showcase local entertainers in three performance areas and includes: Friday’s Foolery; Sugarfoote & Company; Signals and Alibis; Eddie Lott; Mike Freiley; The BoomBachs; Mary Harvey; Felix Flores; The Rhythm and Beards; Tony Rey; Joel Wells; Ann Stover; and Pearl Street Riot.

A full list of sponsors, participants and event details can be found here.

Participant orientation meeting on Tuesday, September 10

Join us for the PARK(ing) Day Dallas orientation meeting on Tuesday, September 10th from 6:30pm-8:00pm. All registered participants should plan to attend to learn about space assignments and event details. The information discussed will be helpful in ensuring our setup and schedule runs smoothly on September 20th. This will also be an opportunity for new participants to ask questions and hear about team plans. Neighborhood sponsor Union Park will host our meeting in the back room of their establishment. For those participants unable to attend, please send us a note so we can be sure to send important event details.

Volunteers not registered to transform a space will meet separately on September 16th.

union-park-logo

PARK(ing) Day to showcase pop-up parks in Dallas

Friday, September 20th has been declared International PARK(ing) Day, and for the third year Dallas area citizens will celebrate by transforming downtown’s parking spaces into miniature parks. The event is intended to promote social interaction, civic engagement, critical thinking, and creativity through individual generosity and play. Utilizing permitted on-street parking spaces, citizens are challenged to create welcoming parks that propose or demonstrate non-commercial ideas for the City’s smaller public spaces. Temporary in nature, these colorful spaces revert back to vehicle parking after several hours. In 2012 Dallas participated with over 50 parks including a yoga space, dog park, outdoor art gallery and reading lounge. This year PARK(ing) Day will take place in over 35 countries worldwide on the same day.

PARK(ing) Day Dallas 2013 focuses on parking space transformations along Main Street between Field Street and St Paul Street, along with other areas of downtown Dallas. Activities will begin with a ribbon cutting at 11:00am at Pegasus Plaza and continue until 7:00pm. A PARK(ing) Day after-party for participants and guests will continue activities at centrally-located City Tavern from 7:00–9:00pm.

A popular component of the event is free entertainment showcasing local musicians througout the day. Organized by Deep Dallas Music, scheduled entertainers include Sugarfoote & Company, The BoomBachs, Eddie Lott, Pearl Street Riot, Joel Wells, Mike Freiley, Mary Harvey, Tony Rey and Ann Stover. Musicians wanting to be involved can send an email to [email protected].

There is no charge to participate and local businesses, organizations and individuals are encouraged to complete online registration by Tuesday, September 10th. The event is completely organized by volunteers
and relies on sponsorships from the community. A full list of sponsors, participants and event details can be found here.